Page 1 of Mrs. & Mrs. Elahi ( INTERSEX GxG )

Lina's POV

The chandelier above me was so blindingly bright it felt like it was mocking me. I slouched in my chair, barely resisting the urge to pull out my phone and start doom-scrolling. Across the polished mahogany table, my parents sat like royalty-my mother draped in emeralds, my father in one of his impeccably tailored suits. They wore matching expressions of smugness, as though this entire meeting was a triumph for them.

It was not.

This was a disaster, and I had no problem saying it.

"You want me to what?" I asked, my voice a touch too loud for the room. My mother winced, and my father sighed deeply, the way he always did when I was being "difficult."

"You heard us, Lina," my mother said, pasting on her most diplomatic smile. "This arrangement is an incredible opportunity for you-and for the family."

"Opportunity?" I scoffed. "You're asking me to marry a stranger for the sake of a business merger. Excuse me if I'm not popping champagne."

"Enough, Lina," my father said, his voice clipped. "This is bigger than you. The Elahis are offering us a partnership that will benefit both families. Zara is-"

"Exceptional," my mother cut in, clasping her hands together. "She's accomplished, intelligent, and-"

"A robot?" I offered, cutting her off. "Because that's the only thing that would make this remotely appealing."

"Lina!" my mother snapped, her eyes narrowing. "You will show some respect."

My gaze flickered to the woman sitting across from me. Zara Elahi. The infamous, all-business ice queen of the tech world. I'd heard her name whispered in every business magazine my father subscribed to, accompanied by words like brilliant and unflappable.

In person, she looked exactly like her reputation: tall, immaculately dressed in a tailored black suit, with sharp cheekbones and piercing eyes that made it feel like she was staring straight into your soul-and judging it. She didn't even flinch at my outburst. Instead, she sat there, perfectly composed, like she'd been carved from marble.

Her voice, when she finally spoke, was as sharp as her appearance. "For the record," she said, her tone cool and even, "I'm not exactly thrilled about this arrangement either."

I blinked. "Oh, really? You don't want to marry me? What a shock."

A flicker of amusement crossed her face, so brief I almost missed it. "I view this arrangement as a necessary step to solidify our families' partnership. Nothing more."

"So, I'm a pawn in your little chess game?" I shot back. "Charming."

"Lina," my father warned, but I ignored him.

Zara's gaze didn't waver. "And what, exactly, do you think I am?"

Her words caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to respond but found myself momentarily speechless. Zara took my silence as an opportunity to continue.

"This isn't about you or me," she said matter-of-factly. "This is about what's best for our families. Whether we like it or not."

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. "Well, for the record, I hate it. And I'm not going to make this easy for you."

"Noted," she said simply, and for a moment, I thought I saw her lips twitch-just the faintest hint of a smirk.

The room went quiet, the tension so thick it could have been cut with a knife. My parents exchanged awkward glances, while Zara's parents-Mr. and Mrs. Elahi-watched the exchange with thinly veiled irritation.

"Now that the introductions are out of the way," Mr. Elahi said, his deep voice breaking the silence, "we should proceed with the announcement."

"Announcement?" I repeated, my stomach sinking.

Before anyone could respond, a waiter entered the room carrying a tray of champagne flutes. My mother stood up, her smile so forced it looked like her face might crack.

"To the future Mrs. and Mrs. Elahi!" she declared, lifting her glass high.

The words hit me like a slap. I sat there, frozen, while everyone else dutifully raised their glasses. Everyone except Zara, who merely picked up her flute and stared at me with those unreadable eyes.

I grabbed my glass, lifting it half-heartedly. "Cheers," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

If they thought I was going to make this easy, they had another thing coming.

The moment the toast ended, I practically bolted out of the dining room, champagne glass still in hand. I needed air, space, and preferably a time machine to undo this nightmare of a dinner.

Unfortunately, the Elahi estate wasn't exactly small, and by the time I found the garden, I was seething. My parents' voices echoed in my head-"This is for the family, Lina," "Zara is exceptional, Lina," "Why can't you just be cooperative for once, Lina?"

I drained the rest of the champagne and set the glass on a nearby stone ledge. The stars above me were gorgeous, the garden peaceful. It should've calmed me down, but all I could think about was Zara's face. Cool, unbothered, and utterly infuriating.

"Running away already?" a familiar voice called out.

I spun around, my pulse quickening. Zara stood a few feet behind me, her hands tucked casually into her pockets, looking as composed as ever. How did someone even walk like that-like they were gliding?

"I needed a break from the circus," I said, crossing my arms. "What's your excuse?"

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze steady. "I came to check on you. Your parents seemed worried you might... cause a scene."

"Cause a scene?" I repeated, my voice dripping with mock offense. "Me? Never."

Her lips quirked ever so slightly, and for the first time, I noticed something almost human in her expression. Almost.

"Well, for what it's worth," she said, stepping closer, "I don't want to be here any more than you do. But unlike you, I'm not interested in theatrics."

"Theatrics?" I scoffed. "This is my life, not a performance."

"And mine isn't?" she shot back, her calm demeanor cracking ever so slightly. "Do you think I enjoy being paraded around like some kind of trophy for my family's business interests?"

I blinked, caught off guard. I'd expected her to stay icy and indifferent, but there was real frustration in her voice now.

"So why go along with it?" I asked, genuinely curious.

She exhaled sharply, glancing up at the stars. "Because that's what's expected of me. Because it's easier to keep the peace than to fight a losing battle."

"Sounds like a cop-out," I said before I could stop myself.

Her gaze snapped back to me, sharper now. "And what's your brilliant solution, Lina? Throw a tantrum until the entire deal falls apart? What happens then? Your family loses everything they've worked for, and mine loses the partnership we need to expand."

Her words stung, mostly because they weren't entirely wrong. I looked away, staring at the roses climbing the garden trellis. "I just don't understand why we have to sacrifice ourselves for them."

Zara was quiet for a moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer. "Because that's the price we pay for being who we are. For being born into families like ours."

Something in her tone made me look at her again. For the first time, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in her otherwise unreadable face. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make me pause.

"Well," I said, breaking the silence, "I'm not going to make it easy for them. Or for you."

Her lips twitched, and this time, I was sure it was the hint of a smile. "I'd be disappointed if you did."

Before I could respond, my mother's voice carried through the garden, calling my name. Zara straightened, her mask of composure sliding back into place.

"It seems our audience is looking for us," she said, motioning toward the mansion.

"Lucky us," I muttered, falling into step beside her.

As we walked back, I couldn't help but glance at her out of the corner of my eye. Zara Elahi was a mystery, and I hated mysteries. But something told me this one was going to be impossible to ignore.